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LIVERPOOL'S booming clubland is to become a no-go area for vehicles during packed partying hours.

More than 100,000 people head to the bars and clubs around Bold Street, Duke Street and Concert Square on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

City councillors have drawn up plans to cut traffic during the busy drinking hours to reduce the chance of clubbers being knocked down by vehicles.

It will mean the area being restricted to 'access only' between 8pm and 4am on the three peak partying nights.

The Council's Regeneration and Environment Select Committee has been told there is strong support for the traffic plan.

A public consultation exercise on the plan will take place in January. It is hoped the new regime would be in place within a year.

Coun Eddie Clein, Select Committee chairman, said: "I have been actively canvassing for some further pedestrianisation of Bold Street for some time so I am very pleased talks are to take place soon with businesses in the Bold Street and Duke Street area and the police.

"This is a very busy area on weekend nights and reducing traffic at this time will make it safer for pedestrians to move around in this area.

"If this is successful I will be looking for an extension to pedestrianisation in this area."

Taxi driver Joe Noble, from Bootle, said: "I think this is a very good idea.

"I personally do not like going down there at night. It is packed and if your cab is going to get marked or have its aerial snapped it will be down there.

"If there are taxi ranks on Hanover and Berry Streets, people will only have to walk 100 yards for a cab."

But Mackala Ellison, manager of the Arena Bar on Wood Street, believes the move could affect her business.

She said: "I think this is the wrong thing to do. My members of staff would have to park a long way from work and then walk during the dark. A lot of our customers also arrive by taxi and may head elsewhere if they have to walk from Berry Street."

Merseyside Police last night said the plans would improve safety.

Inspector Mike Cloherty said: "With the large number of patrons using this part of the city centre at these key times we have a concern for public safety.

"Therefore by reducing access for vehicles it will greatly increase public safety. It will also increase access for emergency service vehicles."